May 2013
Patient Self-Care Resources for Chronic Pain Management
In my
last Coordinator’s Message, I noted Oregon Pain Management Commission members
were developing an online resource for individuals with chronic pain. I am happy to announce that this new resource
was posted on the OPMC website April 24.
You can access this document by clicking on the link “Patient Self-Care
Resources” in the middle of the OPMC home page:
http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPR/Pages/pmc/index.aspx
Much
of the material listed on the OPMC website was written or designed to assist
healthcare professionals. However, this
new “Patient Self-Care Resources” document was developed for use by people with
pain, their family members and others who support individuals with pain. As I pointed out previously, this new
informational tool was not designed to replace the expertise of a primary care
provider or a pain management specialist.
However, this document is a free guide that provides written information
about chronic pain management. It also
has approximately 90 imbedded web links to take the reader to other trusted
online sites for additional information.
If you
are newly diagnosed with a chronic pain condition, the “Patient Self-Care
Resources” document can serve as an introduction to help find answers to some
of the questions you might have. One of
the first links that you can use will take you to an Australian video that
gives basic information about acute and chronic pain. When you click on the arrow in the middle of
the video feed, you will be able to watch a creative and entertaining video
that provides information and “fast-motion drawings” that accompany the
presentation: http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPR/pages/pmc/understanding-pain.aspx
Perhaps
you want to understand the impact of chronic pain on your family. You will find a helpful handout on the second
page when you click on the following link:
http://pain-topics.org/pdf/LovedOnesChronicPain.pdf
No
matter how long you have been living with chronic pain, there is an abundance of
material in this document that can help you improve the quality of your
life. Numerous pain experts have pointed
out the importance of a positive mental outlook. They note that anxiety and depression can
impact chronic pain in a negative way.
Perhaps you are looking for a tool to help you take a positive approach
to address anxiety and depression. You
will find a link that takes you to the American Academy of Pain Medicine
meditation and mindfulness video (see video #18): http://www.painmed.org/pain-awareness/ You may want
to use the link that takes you to free instructions on progressive relaxation,
deep breathing, and guided imagery: http://www.umm.edu/sleep/relax_tech.htm
Good
communication is important in all aspects of life, but it is especially so for
individuals living with chronic pain. If
you are looking for insightful tips about communicating with your doctor, there
are a number of related links including:
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/quicktips/doctalk.htm Perhaps you would like to learn more about
the impact of chronic pain on friends and how to deal with the reactions of
others. To read this information and to
listen to how others with chronic pain respond to these topics, you may use the
link:
http://www.healthtalkonline.org/chronichealthissues/Chronic_Pain/Topic/1624/
Since
so many people use the World Wide Web to locate information, the “Patient
Self-Care Resources” provides some tips for staying informed online. These tips will help you evaluate the
truthfulness and accuracy of online information. There are suggestions that tell you what to
look for in a web address and the important details to take note of when you
are navigating a web site. Here is one
of the links that you can use to evaluate web-based health sites: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/webresources
Because
new information and new resources become available all of the time, the members
of the Oregon Pain Management Commission plan to revise and update the “Patient
Self-Care Resources” from time to time.
If you have the opportunity to explore this new online resource, please
share your feedback with me: kathy.m.kirk@state.or.us
Kind Regards,
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